Shopping reminder



Nv' 3' 1970 D. c. BARRETT y y 3,537,198l

SHOPPING REMINDER Filed Jan. 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Shezet 1 26 zo ,60 ,6 5gBY 00N C. BARRETT mi( ATTORNEYS .y 1

NOV. 3, 1970 D C, BARRETT 3,537,198

SHOPPING REMINDER Filed Jan 5, 196e s sheets-sheet a z5 d F*- 7/Nvf/vm/z 50 5,2 /6 50 5)/ 00N c.' E Y @m/fm ATTORNEYS Nov. 3;-1970 D.c. BARRETT 3,537,198

SHOPPING REMINDER n Filed Jan. 5, v1966 s sheets-.sheet s /73 l /94 ya200 /92 1 E V96] INVENTOR .D0/v C. BARRETT United States Patent Olce3,537,198 Patented Nov. 3, 1970 3,537,198 SHOPPING REMINDER Don C.Barrett, 838 S. Dinwiddie St., Arlington, Va. 22204 Filed Jan. 5, 1966,Ser. No. 518,825 Int. Cl. G09f 11/10 U.S. Cl. 40-77 14 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE A shopping reminder having an intermittently rotatabledrum with a series of illuminatable product signs thereon. The drum ismounted in a housing having a viewing opening and having above suchopening, a stationary sign to be illuminated. A toothed member isrotatable with the drum, step-by-step, and is actuated by a crankmounted on a driven cam to present successive signs at the viewingopening. The cam actuates switch means in timed sequence to the movementof the drum by the crank to alternately illuminate the stationary signwhile the drum is being rotated and to illuminate the sign on the drumopposite the viewing opening while the drum is stationary.

This invention relates generally to a device for displaying andilluminating signs. The device may be generally characterized as ashopping reminder, although its use is by no means limited to suchcategory.

More particularly, the invention relates to an improved sign displaydevice especially designed for use in retail stores to remind shoppersof items which they might have overlooked purchasing and/or to suggestpurchasing such items. The device includes an intermittently-rotateddrum having mounted thereon a series of signs which are individuallydisplayed, step by step, to the viewer, preferably in combination with astationary sign that flashes on-andoff to attract attention to thesuccessively displayed signs. The device further includes lighting meansfor automatically illuminating, in alternation, the stationary sign, andthe movable sign which has been brought into display position.

The on-and-oif stationary sign is purposely designed to attract ashoppers attention, and for this purpose carries a legend such as DIDYOU FORGET. The individual movable signs each carry the name of aparticular product stocked by the store, or any other desired legend.The illuminating means is designed to light up the stationary sign toattract the buyers attention thereto during the period that the drum isin motion changing the display from one movable sign to the next, and tointerrupt illumination during the transition period. After a movablesign has been moved into display position, the illuminating meansfunctions so that the stationary sign ceases to be lit, and instead, theindividual movable sign in display position is illuminated. The deviceis designed to automatic-ally repeat this operating cycle until it isshutt off.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a shopping reminderintended to increase sales of merchandise in establishments where it isdisplayed.

Another object is to provide a display device incorporating a stationarysign, and a series of movable signs arranged to be individuallydisplayed in sequence, step by step, and including means for alternatelyilluminating the stationary sign and the movable sign as they aresuccessively displayed.

Another object is to provide means foi use in a display device forautomatically and alternately effecting illumination of a stationarysign, and one sign of a series of movable signs which is displayed forview.

A further object is to provide a simple drum mechanism for individuallydisplaying, step by step, a series of readily replaceable signs.

A still further object is to provide a simple means for intermittentlyrotating a sign display drum by a continuously running motor andsimultaneously controlling the illumination of the drum, in alternationwith the illumination of a stationary sign associated with the drum.

Still another object is to provide a display device of the typedescribed which is relatively simple in construction, economical tomanufacture and substantially troublefree in service.

Other objections and many of the attendant advantages of the inventionwill become readily apparent from the following description, whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a front perspective view of the sign display device of theinvention showing the stationary reminder and one of the drum-mountedmoveable signs;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the display device of FIG. l with thehousing cover removed, showing the means within the housing forilluminating the stationary sign and for successively displaying themovable signs;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken generally along the line 3 3in FIG. 2, showing the intermittent drive mechanism for the drum and theswitch arrangement associated therewith for effecting alternateoperation of the two illumination systems;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 2,showing the interior of the drum;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken along the line 5 5 in FIG. 3 throughthe drum support shaft, particaularly showing a friction retarding meansassociated therewith for preventing over-running of the drum;

FIG. 6 is a enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken along the line 66 in FIG. 4, showing a supporting means for the end of the drum remotefrom the drum support shaft;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional perspective view, looking downwardlygenerally along the line 7 7 of FIG. 3, showing the construction of abracket for holding the illuminating means for the stationary sign; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit of the present signdisplay device.

Referring now to the drawings, the sign display device is indicatedgenerally at 2, and includes a rectangular housing 4 having a front wall6, and a pair of side walls 8 and 10 formed integrally with the frontwall, and which terminate along their rear edge in inturned flanges 12and 14, respectively. The housing 4 is closed at its lower end by abottom wall 16, including upwardly extending flanges 18 along the edgesthereof which are received within the front wall 6 and the side walls 8and 10 and secured thereto by screws 19. A similarly formed top wall 20,having downwardly directed flanges 22 thereon, closes the upper end ofthe housing 4, said top wall being spaced below the upper edge of thefront wall 6 and the side walls 8 and 10, and being secured in place byscrews 24. The rear of the housing is closed by a plate 26, secured tothe flanges 12 and 14 by screws 28.

The front wall -6 of the housing 4 has a horizontal, elongated,generally rectangular opening 30 near the upper end thereof. Astationary translucent sign 32 is secured by adhesive to the innersurface of the front wall 6 about the opening 30, and is backed by aglass plate 34 also secured in position by adhesive. The stationary sign32 includes a translucent background portion which when illuminated isof a color to attract attention, say yellow, and which has the words DIDYOU FORGET, or some other suitable legend, lettered thereon. Thelettering on the sign 32 can be either opaque or translucent, and thecolors and material of the sign are chosen so that the legend willbe'fully visbile when the sign is illuminated from the rear thereof. lfdesired, only the lettered portions of the sign 32 need be translucent,in which instance only the legend would appear lighted when the sign isilluminated.

The front wall 6 of the housing 4 also has a second and much largerrectangular opening 36 therein, positioned directly below the stationarysign 32. A fully transparent sheet of glass 38 is secured by adhesive tothe inner face of the wall 6 to cover the opening 36, and the inner faceof the glass sheet 38 has an opaque mask 40 l secured thereto. The mask40 has a centrally disposed,

horizontally extending display opening 42 therein, through which thesigns (to be described later) on the drum are successively displayed.The colors of the stationary sign 32 and of the mask 40 are preferablysuch as to contrast sharply with the color of the exterior of thehousing 4, so that attention will be drawn thereto.

The display means for the movable signs is indicated generally at 44,and is mounted upon a platform 46 resting upon the bottom wall 16between the front and rear anges 18 thereof, FIG. 3. The display meansis an insertable sub-assembly and comprises a platform 46 including a atplate 48 having a plurality of parallel angle irons 50 Welded to itsundersurface, the vertical legs 52 of the angle irons 50 extendingdownwardly to rest on the bottom wall 16 between the anges 18. Securedto project upwardly from the platform 46 is a pair of aligned drumsupports 54 and 5-6. The support 54 includes a sheet metal bracket 58comprising a rectangular vertical wall 60 and a pair of triangular sidewalls 62, the latter having outwardly directed base flanges 64 on theirlower end, which are secured to the platform 46 by bolts 66. The support56 includes a sheet metal bracket 68 comprising a vertical rectangularpanel 70, a pair of side flanges 72, and an outwardly directed baseflange 74 at the bottom of the panel 70, the flange 74 being secured tothe platform 46 by bolts 76.

The outer side of the wall 60 of the bracket 58 has a relatively thickrectangular plate 78 secured thereto by rivets 80, the upper end of theplate 78 and the wall 60 having aligned openings l82 and 84,respectively, extending therethrough. Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 inparticular, a drum shaft 86 is mounted in a bushing 88 press-fitted inthe openings 82 and 84 and has a flange 90 at its inner end engaged withthe wall 60. A similar bushing 92 is received on the inner end of theshaft 86, and includes a flange 94 confronting the ange'90. The innerand outer ends of the shaft 86 have annular grooves 96 and 98 therein,within which are received snap rings 100 and 102, respectively, tomaintain the shaft 86 assembled with the bushings 88 and 92.

A Washer 104 is mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 86 inwardly ofthe snap ring 100, and a coil spring 106 is compressed between said snapring and said washer, thereby urging the washer 104 against the adjacentend of the bushing 88 and holding the snap ring 102 against the end ofthe other bushing 92. A nylon friction washer 108 is positioned betweenthe bushing flanges 90 and 94, and the spring 106 functions to maintainthe anges 90 and 94 in tight frictioned engagement with the oppositefaces of the washer 108 to form a brake for retarding the rotation of adrum 110 arranged to rotate with the bushing 92, as will be explainedhereinafter.

The drum 110, FIG. 4, includes radial end walls comprising a circulardisc 112 and an annular ring 114, said disc and ring being connectedtogether by longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced metallicchannel strips 116. The drum disc 112 and ring 114 may be made of wood,plastic, or any other suitable material. The channel strips 116 arepreferably made of extruded aluminum, but can be made of hard plastic orany other equivalent material. Referring particularly to FIG. 6, eachchannel strip 116 includes a head 117 having an I-shaped crosssectionand a ange 128 extending from the base of the l. The head 117 comprisesa base web 118, a top web 120,

and an integrally formed spacing rib 122 which connects said base andtop webs. Thus, the laterally extending portions of the base web 118 andthe top web 120 deline oppositely facing grooves 124, 124 for slidablyreceiving the side edges of translucent, plastic signs 126 to be mountedon the drum 110. The signs 126 can be bowed slightly transversely toprovide a good friction t with grooves 124 (FIG. 3).

Returning again to FIG. 6, the downwardly projecting flange 128 runsalong the length of each channel strip 116 and has triangularly-shapedridges 130 on the opposite sides thereof and terminates in awedge-shaped bottom edge 132. The channel, strips 116 are secured to thedisc 112 and ring 114 by driving the flanges 128 into evenly spacedradial slots 129 preformed in the periphery of the disc and ring. Thechannel strips 116 are firmly anchored to the disc 112 and ring 114 bythe ridges 130, which lock the strips in place. The channel strips 116cooperate with the disc 112 and ring 114 to form the side wall of thedrum 110. In addition, the confronting grooves 124 on adjacent channelstrips 116 receive the side edges of the translucent signs 126 so thatnearly the entire inner surface of each sign is exposed to the interiorof the drum 110.

The disc 112 has an axial bore 134 to receive the busing 92. A toothednylon disc 136 is secured to the outer face of the disc 112 by one ormore screws 138, and has a central opening 140 in which the bushing 92is pressfitted.

The upper end of the vertical portion of the bracket 68 has an openingin which -a stove bolt 142, FIG. 4, 1s secured at its threaded end bynuts 144. The head of the bolt 142 lies within the drum 110. A looselytted cylindrical sleeve 148 is rotatably mounted on the bolt 142 betweenits head and one of the nuts 144. The sleeve 148 and bolt 142 functionto steady or support the ring-end of the drum 110 for rotation about theaxis of the shaft 86, the vertical height of the bolt 142 -above theplatform 46 being such that, when the inner periphery '150 of the ring1l14 is resting on the sleeve 148, the center of the disc 112 and ring114 will be axially aligned and disposed on a common horizontal axisparallel with the front wall 6 of the housing 4. The axis of the drum110 is also disposed in a horizontal plane passing approximately throughthe center of the elongated sign display opening 42. The bracket 68 canbe omitted, if desired, in which event the drum 110 will be supported incantilever fashion by the drum shaft 86 and bracket 58.

A spacer 152 is disposed between the toothed disc 136 and the bushingilange 94, and because of the tight fit between the toothed disc 136 andthe bushing 92, the disc will rotate with the bushing. The spring 106urges the bushing flanges and 92 into frictional engagement with theopposite faces of the nylon washer 108, the resultant brake action beingdesigned to preventthe drum from inertial rotation while allowing it tokbe easily rotated from one position of rest to another. This assuresaccurate successive indexing of the movable signs 126 with the displayopening 42, as in FIG. 3.

The drum '110 has sucient channel strips 1'16 to mount a desired numberof signs 126 on the cylindrical surface thereof. The drum `110 may bedesigned to carry any desired number of signs 126, but in the embodimentshown, the number of signs is twenty. Each of the signs 126 carries alegend, for example, the name of one or more items, such as, BEER,BOOKS, SOAP, TOYS, etc., which can be purchased in the establishmentwhere the device is installed, the lettered and/or the backgroundportions of the signs 126 preferably being translucent. The displayapparatus 44 is designed to present the signs 126 one at a time and insuccession to the opening 42. As` each sign 126 is positioned to beviewed through the opening 42, light from an illuminating means withinthe drum is directed through the translucent portions of the signs toilluminate the legend thereon.

The toothed disc 136, as is best shown in FIG. 3, has saw-tooth liketeeth 154 around the entire periphery thereof, there being one tooth 154corresponding to each movable sign 126 on the drum 110. Each tooth 154includes a radial trailing edge 156 and an inclined leading edge 158,which extends inwardly at an angle of about relative to the trailingedge 156.

Mounted upon the platform 46 by bolts 160, rearfwardly of the drumsupport 54, is an electric motor 162 having a drive shaft 164. The shaft164 extends parallel to, and is disposed below the axis of rotation ofthe drum 110, the shaft 164 being positioned with its axis in line withthe cylindrical surface of the drum 110; A cam 166 is mounted on theshaft 164 by a screw 168. The cam 166 carries a crank pin with a rollerdriving element 170 thereon, which engages with one of the teeth 154during each revolution of the cam 166 to rotate the drum 110 through anangle corresponding to the circumferential distance between the centersof adjacent channel strips 116. This automatic rotation of the drum 110results in the movable signs 126 being indexed in sequence and one at atime, for viewing through the opening 42.

Positioned rearwardly of the stationary sign 32 is a preassembledinsertable illuminating apparatus 172, FIG. 3, including a forwardlyfacing, channel-shaped reflector 174 made from sheet metal, andcomprising a horizontal bottom wall 176, a vertical rear wall 178, andan upwardly inclined top wall 180, the bottom wall 176 terminating atits forward end in a downtumed lip 182. The housing side walls 8 and 10have horizontal angle irons 184 attached thereto above the drum 110. Theangle irons 184 include inwardly directed top flanges 186 and lying in acommon horizontal plan upon which the reflector 174 rests. As is bestshown in FIG. 7, the forward end of the top flanges 186 of the angleirons 184 is cut away at 187 to enable the lip 182 to be hookedthereover, whereby the assembly is mounted in proper relation to thesign 32. The rear wall 178 of the reflector 174 has three electric lampsockets 190 secured thereto, each containing a light bulb 192, whichwhen energized illuminate the stationary sign 32.

The drum 110 also has illuminating means 194 extending therein,including an upwardly facing channel 196 secured at one end to thebracket 68, and arranged to extend horizontally through the ring 114. Ina device in lwhich the stove bolt 142 and sleeve 148 are omitted, ashorter bracket could be substituted for the bracket 68, or the channel196 could be designed with a downwardly bent end and directly mountedupon the plate 48, as a part of the sub-assembly. The channel 196 hasthree lamp sockets 198 attached thereto, each containing a light bulb200. Thus, rwhen the light bulbs 200 are energized, light will bedirected through the translucent signs 126 carried by the drum 110, andwhichever sign 126 is in registration with the opening 42 will be viewedilluminated.

The illuminating means 172 and 194 are interconnected in an electricalcontrol circuit, shown schematically in FIG. 8. This circuit is designedso that the illuminating means 172 will be energized to light up thestationary sign 32, while the display apparatus 44 is being moved tochange one movable sign 126 for another at the opening 42. When a sign126 has been indexed with the opening 42, the circuit functions todeenergize the illuminating means 172, and to energize the illuminatingmeans 194 to light up the drum and movable sign 126 on display.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, the control circuit is supplied withelectrical current from an outlet 202 through a conventional two-prongplug 204 carried on the end of a cord 206. The cord 206 is connectedwith a junction box 209 attached to a flange'205 on the plate 48 bybolts 207, thus forming part of the display assembly 44. Secured to theplatform 46 by bolts 208 is a bracket 210, to which is attached byscrews 211 a two-position microswitch 212, including a reslient switchblade 214 and a pair of contacts 216 and 218, the contact 216 beingNormally Open (N O.) and the contact 218 bein-g Normally Closed (N.C.).A lead 220 extends from one side of the junction box 209 to a terminal222 associated with the blade 214, and a second lead 224 extends frornthe terminal 222 to one side of the motor 162. A lead 226 extends fromthe junction box 209 to the other side of the motor 162. Thus, when theplug 204 is inserted into the outlet 202, the motor 162 will beenergized and the drum will operate.

A conductor 228 is connected with the lead 226 and with one side of eachof the groups of lamp sockets 190 and 19S, respectively. A conductor 230is connected to the Normally Open switch contact 216, and to the otherside of each of the lamp sockets 198, whereby the lamp bulbs 200 areconnected in parallel between the leads 230 and 228. Similarly, aconductor 232 extends from the Normally Closed switch contact 218 to theother side of the lamp sockets 190, so that the lamp bulbs 192 areconnected in parallel between the conductors 232 and 228. It is thusevident that when the switch blade 214 is in its Normal position, inengagement with the contact 218, the lamp bulbs 192 will be lit, and thelamp bulbs 200 will be without current; the blade 214 being springbiased so that when in its Normal position it contacts the terminal 218.When the switch blade 214 is moved from the contact 218 to the contact216, the lamp bulbs 192 will be deenergized, and the lamp bulbs 200 willreceive electrical current, causing the same to light up. Thus, theilluminating means 172 and 194 are alternately operated.

The switch 212 includes a resilient operating arm 234 attached at oneend to the switch body, and arranged to operate a sliding pin 236engaged at one end with the blade 214. The arm 234 carries a roller 238on the tip thereof, and when said arm is depressed the pin 236 will movethe spring biased blade 214 from the Normally Closed contact 214 to theNormally Open contact 216. When the arm 234 is released, the springblade 214 is automatically returned to its Normal position.

The switch 212 is mounted to have its operating arm 234 actuated by thecam 166, FIG. 3, which is mounted upon the shaft 164 so that it willrotate continuously while current is supplied to the motor 162. The cam166 is made from a disc having a section thereof cut away over an arclength of about degrees to provide a flat side 240, and an arcuate camsurface 242, which extends over an angle of about 240 degrees. The axisofthe crank roller is positioned on a radius about 125 degrees from theleading edge 244 of the arcuate cam surface 242, and the cam 166 and theswitch 212 are arranged so that the arcuate cam surface 242 will be outof engagement with the switch roller 238 while the crank roller 170 isengaged with any one of the teeth 154.

It is thus seen that while the crank roller 170 is in engagement with atooth 154 to rotate the drum 110, the switch roller y128 on theoperating arm 234 will be free, and the switch blade 214 will bepositioned to engage the Normally Closed contact 218, whereby thestationary sign 32 will be illuminated by the lamp bulbs 192. After thecrank roller 170 disengages the toothed disc 136, the leading edge 244of the arcuate cam surface 242 will engage the switch roller 238, withthe result that the operating arm 234 will be depressed, thus moving theblade 214 from the Normally Closed contact 218 to the Normally Opencontact 216. When this occurs, the lamp bulbs 192 will be de-energizedand the stationary sign 32 will be darkened, while at the same time, thelamp bulbs 200 will be lighted to illuminate a sign 126 which is ondisplay through the opening 42. The lamp bulbs 200 will remainilluminated for a predetermined period of time while the arcuate camsurface 242 is in engagement with the switch roller 238, which periodwill terminate just before the cam 166 s rotated suiciently to againengage the crank roller 170 with One of the teeth y154. T'he operatingarm 234 will then be released and will return to its original position,whereupon the lamp bulbs 192 will be again energized to i1- luminate thestationary sign 32, and the lamp bulbs 200 will be darkened. The displayapparatus 44 then functions to change to the next successive movablesign 126, completing an operating cycle.

It is thus seen that a display device has been provided which fulfillsall of the objects above set forth. If desired, the device can bedesigned to broadcast music or other sound, such as, storeannouncements, page personnel, etc., to further enhance the valuethereof. Referring to FIG. l, the front panel 6 is shown to be equippedwith -grills 246 on one side of openings 30 and 36, underneath whichloudspeakers and controls, respectively, can be mounted, if desired.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, tobe understood that within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically shown anddescribed.

I claim:

1. Sign display apparatus, comprising: a housing including a front wallhaving a viewing opening through which a sign can be displayed; displaymeans within said housing; a series of movable signs associated withsaid display means; an element mounted to move only with said displaymeans; means including a rotating member for intermittently engaging andactuating said element, moving said dispaly means to sequentiallydisplay said signs one at a time at said viewing opening; illuminatingmeans arranged so that when energized it will direct light to themovable sign being displayed at said viewing opening; and control meansconnected with said illuminating means, including a switch connected incircuit with said illuminating means, said rotating member beingarranged to intermittently, directly engage and also actuate said switchin timed relation to the operation of said display means to alternately:(l) de-energize said illuminating means while said display meansoperates to effect change of one movable sign for another movable signat said viewing opening; and (2) energize said illuminating means duringthe interval between successive sign changes while the newly displayedsign is stationary and is being displayed at said viewing opening.

2. In combination: a rotatable body; means supporting said rotatablebody for intermittent rotation about an axis passing through said body;means for imparting intermittent rotary movement to said rotatable bodycomprising: a toothed member connected for rotation with said rotatablebody, a driven shaft, and a cam driven by said shaft and carrying acrank element engageable with suecessive teeth on said toothed memberone tooth at a time, and switch means arranged to be actuated by saidcam independently of said crank element in alternation with theintermittent rotary movement of said body by said crank element.

3. Sign display apparatus, comprising: a housing including a front wallhaving a viewing opening through which a sign can be displayed; displaymeans within said housing; a series of movable signs associated withsaid display means, said display means being operable to sequentiallydisplay said signs one at a time at said viewing opening; a stationarysign spaced from said viewing opening; -first illuminating meansarranged so that when energized it will direct light to the movable signbeing displayed at said viewing opening; second illuminating meansarranged so that when energized it will direct light to said stationarysign; and control means connected with said first and said secondilluminating means, and operable in timed relation to the operation ofsaid display means to alternately: (l) energize said second illuminatingmeans and de-energize said first illuminating means for a firstpredetermined period of time, while said display means operates toeffect change of one movable sign for another 8 v movable sign at saidviewing opening; and (2) de-energize said second illuminating means andenergize said first illuminating means for a second predetermined periodof time, while said display means is not operating and a movable sign isbeing displayed at said viewing opening.

4. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the stationarysign is located on the front wall above the viewing opening.

5. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the displaymeans includes: a cylindrical drum; means mounting said drum forrotation about the axis thereof, said drum being arranged so that aportion of the periphery thereof confronts the viewing opening; means onsaid drum mounting said movable signs on the periphery thereof; andmeans, including a motor having a shaft for rotating said drum step bylstep to sequentially display said movable signs at said viewingopening.

6. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the firstilluminating means includes at least one lamp bulb disposed within thedrum, and wherein the signs mounted upon said drum are translucent sothat at least a portion of the inner surface of each is exposed to lightfrom said lamp bulb.

7. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the controlmeans includes: a two-position switch; an electrical circuit includingsaid two-position switch and said first and said second illuminatingmeans; and a cam mounted upon the shaft of the motor and arranged tomove said two-positionv switch from one position to the other positionthereof during each revolution of said shaft, only said lfirstilluminating means being energized when said switch is in said otherposition, and only said second illuminating means being energized whensaid switch is in said one position.

8. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 5, including additionally:friction brake means connected with said drum to retard free rotationthereof.

9. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the drumincludes a pair of spaced, circular end walls, and wherein the means fordetachably mounting the movable signs on said drum includes a pluralityof parallel, circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending, channelstrips secured to said end walls and extending therebetween, theconfronting portions of adjacent channel strips having grooves thereinfor slidably receiving opposite lateral edges of the movable signs.

-10. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 9, Wherein one of thedrum end walls comprises a circular disc, and wherein the means formounting said drumfor rotation about the longitudinal axis thereofincludes: a support mounted within the housing; and shaft means on saidsupport, the center of said disc end Wall being supported on said shaftmeans.

11. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the other endwall of the drum is an annular ring, and wherein roller means is mountedon a support and engages With the inner surface of said annular ring.

12. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the means forrevolving the drum step by step includes: a toothed member connectedcoaxially with the drum and being provided with teeth corresponding innumber to the number of movable signs that can be mounted upon saiddrum; and wherein a crank element is mounted eccentrically relative tothe shaft of the motor, and is engageable with one of said teeth duringeach revolution of said shaft to revolve said drum a distance equal tothe circumferential lwidth of one of the movable signs.

13. Sign display apparatus as recited in claim 12, including a cammounted upon the motor shaft, and wherein the crank element is mountedupon said cam, and wherein the control means includes: an electricalcontrol circuit containing the first and second illuminating means, aswitch connected in said circuit and being movable from a firstposition, wherein said second illuminating means is energized and saidrlirst illuminating means is de-energized,

to a second position, wherein said first illuminating means is energizedand said second illuminating means is deenergized; biasing means forurging said `switch into said first position; and actuating meanscarried by said switch and engageable by said cam while the motor shaftis rtating to move said switch into said second position, said cam beingshaped so that said switch is in said first position while the drum iseiecting a change of one sign for another at the viewing opening.

14. Sign display apparatus comprising: a housing including a front wallhaving a viewing opening through which a sign can be displayed; arotatable body lwithin said housing intermittently rotatable about anaxis passing through said body; a series of movable signs associatedwith said body; a toothed member connected with said body; a drivenshaft; a cam driven by said shaft and carrying a crank elementengageable with successive teeth on said toothed member, one at a time,for intermittently operating said body to sequentially display saidsigns one at a time at said viewing opening; illuminating means arrangedso that when energized it will direct light to the movable sign beingdisplayed at said viewing opening; and control means connected with saidilluminating means including a switch connected in circuit with saidilluminating means, said cam being arranged to also actuate said switchin timed relation to the operation of said body to alternate- ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,049,929 8/ 1936 Schlachman 40-77 2,593,3314/ 1952 Morton 40-77 2,535,490 12/1950 Emrick 74-820 X 2,863,239 12/1958 Glukes.

2,917,733 12/1959 `ustus 340-334 OTHER REFERENCES Atherton, C. A.:Electrical Advertising, Ohio, Signs of the Times, 1925, pp. 13S-148.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner U.S.Cl. X.R. -33; 74-820

